Tow bar clamp



H. KATZ TOW BAR CLAMP Nov. 9, 1948.

Filed March 26, 1947 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 TOW BAR CLAMP 'Heyman Katz, Asbury Park, N. J.

Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,292 I 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in towing devices, more particularly a tow line clamp used in towing a car and which can be released at a point removed from the clamp.

The conventional manner of towing a car that is stalled or out of order is by means of a tow line, usually in the form of a heavy rope or chain. This gives rise to many difiiculties, chief of which are; the liability of the rope or chain to break or part, difliculty in properly securing the rope or chain to the bumpers of the car being towed and the towing car, jerkiness due to the slack in the rope or chain, and many other disadvantages well known to drivers who have had occasion to be towed.

The present invention contemplates a towing device in the form of a rigid clamp member adapted to be secured to the rear bumper of the towing car and to the front bumper of the car being towed, resulting in a more positive and rigid connection between the two cars.

' A further disadvantage of the conventional towing line exists while towing a car which has stalled and needs to be towed. a short distance while the car is in gear to enable the car to start up. After the car has started up, it is necessary to stop both cars to remove or disengage the tow line.

In the present invention, release of the towed car is accomplished from within the towing car while the same is in motion, and since the towing device is in the form of a rigid clam member, it will remain on the towing ca without touching the groun will not interfere with the running of the car.

It is recognized that rigid clamping members have been used in the past between a towing car and a car being towed wherein the main function of the clamp is to eliminate "the presence of a driver in the towed car. This device is most commonly used by parking garages for picking up cars to be parked. Although the clamp of the present invention can be used in a similar manner, the primary purpose of the clamp is to replace the usual tow lines and overcome the disadvantages thereof as pointed out above.

A further important objector the present in vention is to provide a tow clamp which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and which is of strong rugged construction.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection With the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment 2 i of the invention andiin: which:

Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of the clamp, shown mounted on the bumpers of two cars,only a section of the bumpers being shown.

Figure 2 is a top plan view ofthe clamp seen in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View taken onthe line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view "of the re-' leasing pin in locked position; 2 f

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, reference numeral! is'us'edf to designate the tow clamp, numeral II the rear" bumper of the towing car, and numeral l2' the front bumper of the car being towed. f

The clamp It] comprises two fiat metal bars I 3' and I4 which ma be joinedtogetherin any suitable manner such as welding or riveting. The upper metal bar has one end bent 'upwardlyintd a vertical section I5 terminating in a curved'sec tion l6. Semi-circular sections I! are welded t o' the vertical section 15 at the curved end thereof and forms therewith a housing. The lowered-go 58 of section ll also serves'as a'bearin'gsurfaee againstithe upper edge of 'the bumper 12-." -=An* opening I9is provided in the uper metalbar ade jacent its "vertical section fora purpose thatwfll' ap ear. i f'y' The lower bar I4 terminates shorto'f'theupper' bar l3 and has a hook member zozp'ivoted thereto, by a pintle 2|. The hook member 2UZc'omprise s a horizontal portion 22, a downwardly extending portion 23, curved portion 24 and upwardly' ex tending portion 25." The upper end of portion 25 may extend within the housing porti on; or may" stop short thereof, depending on-the'width prlthj bumper or whether or not the bumper'h'as a top; flange thereon. The hook member is notheld closed by reason of its fitting within'the housing portion but by means of'a locking arrangement' described below. i "j;

A chain member 26 is anchored to the vertical, section by an eye member'fZl andto the hook. member 20 by an eye member128...Ihechain $1 of sufficient length to permit hook member fll drop to its lowermost position The chain in ber 26 extends throu'ghfthe per-ling '19 member [3.

Mounted on the upper surface of the bar member I3 is a bracket member 29 having a pair of vertical lugs 30 and 3!. A horizontal rod 32 is mounted for sliding movement in openings formed in the two vertical lugs. A hooked portion 33 is bpe crane: Hooked: member 20? adiiiusted t'mvari'ous positions depending on" which link of theschain receives the sliding bar. A wire or pull member 35 has one end connected to the? hooked portion of the rod 32 and its other. and fastened within the towing car within reach of the driverof the car.

A swivelly mounted clamping member is provided ati'the: opposite end of the tow'olamp' for securing the. t'ow clamp to the towing can. This.

clamping}. member oomnrises an L-shaped bar harving axhoriaontal portion 36 -and. a verticalleg IT. A lower member, including a horizontaliportion 3% and: aihookedmortior-r 39 is swivell conn'ectedi to the=bar members 13 and. M- and tci-the upper horizontal memberl-3fisthrough a-rivet ML as seemimflignre ih. A hooked member 4i is-pivot'ally mounted to portion 39 by a pintle 42,, Mem be: 441iav-providedlwithsan-opening 43 adapted-to receive a hasp member 44 mounted on: vertical member 3:11. The: haspw member has the usual opening and? is adapted to receive alatching mcmberrfitmounted-onthehooked member 44'.

- the-usea ofi the-zdevicewith an ordinary pas-- stinger; can on truck, thedevice m-ay be carried in: theitoelicompantment of: the can err-truck. When neeessarw t'muse theztowing clamp; the? clamping member mambo: mounted-.onithewear. bumper of.

the towingioar imamobvious mannerr. Ihe other end: ofithm tom clamp-Y is seouredl to;' the: frontlmmpen the can 110 be: towed: by placing: the

cnwediportion; Hioven' the: bumper I2: and en+- circling-l the: bumper: Withw the pivoted hook 20; 'nhe ct'rainzisxpulledlupias far 353%) will go=with thmrrflilz retracted; whereupon; the rod is res with: it's free? end: extending: through the corresponding link of the chaih tm hold. the hooked-f portion; in; as. closed: locked. position. The- Wimtfieni in: position: to? be: towed. When it. is desired: tbmeiease ther-t'bweif car thei driver of: the towing car can pull on the wire 35, therebyretmotingtm di 32" which unlocks hinged; pertion: 20.

it tin drop: and? causing; separation of? iiecislirt the the. construction. herein shown: amends: berequiredbytlieappended claims.

, simag considered with reference to the prior art..

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A tow line clamp comprising arigid member having a swivelly mounted clamping member at one end and a pivoted hook member at the other end thereof, locking means secured to said hook member, a locking member slidably mounted on said rigid member for cooperating with said locking means to hold the hook member in an uprighti loeke'd' position, sprihgjmeans on said looking member to urge themember outwardly into locking engagement, and a remotely controlled pull member connected to said locking member for retracting same against the action of the spring.

2; In' aitow line clamp, a rigid frame member, aihookimemberpivotally mounted on said frame member, saidhook member having a horizontal portionand a vertical portion, said vertical portion adapted to engage behind the bumper of a oar,v a locking member mounted-l on: the upper surface of I the horizontal portion, av reciprocable, rod mounted. on the upper, surface of the, rigid frame member for engagement with the locking. member. to hold: thehook member in an upright position,

3: In a. tow line clamp of' the character dew seribed'in'clairn 2, a-cwire member connected-to said= reciprocablev. rod. for operatingthe same at a-point removedfrom said clamp.

4': Inatow line clamp,,a rigidiframe member, a vertically extending; portion: at one end. of the frame-member, a hook member pivotallyv-mountecl. on; said frame member adjacent said vertically extending portion, said hook member having a:- horizontal portion and-a vertical poItio-n a chain having one end connected to the upper surface of said horizontal portion and. its other. end conneetedi tothe: vertically extending portion, and aureciprocabler rod member mounted on the upper surface of the frame member; said rod-member havingoneend thereof: movableinto a link, of theechaini,

5.: In: a tow'line clamp,a rigid-framemember, ab vertically extending" portion at one: endf. of J the frame'member, a; hook member pivotally mounted;

on: said frame" member: adjacent said: verticallyextending portion, said hook member having a; horizontal: portion: and a v-ertical portion, a chain having; one end connected to" the upper;- surface 4 one end of the rod member into engagement withone: of the links on the. chain;, and a remotely operatedpull member connected to-the other encl' of v the rodv for retractingsaid rod out of engage ment with'the chain.

HEYMAN KATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record in the file of this patentr UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date: 4

2,210,007:- Rodinr Aug; 6, 1.940 2,258,678 Elwood Oct. 14, I941 

